She's been on the only medication for her condition that medicaid will accept for years, and although doctors have tried adrenal sampling numerous times, nothing seems to be working.

Her only option is surgery, but without health insurance, that's not possible.

Last Sunday, DeFontes went to the emergency room at The Valley Hospital because she felt like she was having another stroke. She was sent home after nothing came up on a CAT scan, but woke up to a police officer at her door at 3:30 that morning because a mistake was made at the hospital, and she needed to go back.

DeFontes is still waiting for the results to see if she suffered another stroke this week.

Her condition is steadily worsening, and it's getting more and more difficult to keep up with day-to-day tasks.

"I live with my mom who is living off of social security, and I'm not even sure I can get disability," said DeFontes, formerly a nurse. "My focus has been getting medicaid back."

Mount Sinai hospital in New York City seems to be DeFontes' only hope. But without insurance, there's not much she can do.

"The healthcare system is flawed," she said. "People need to get discharged with a plan."